Device for connection between a traction cable and a bicycle with automatic and manual disengagement

The present invention relates to a device for connection between a general traction cable and a bicycle, particularly applicable to ski-lifts, for hauling uphill bicycles or like machines, and in particular bicycles used for cross-country or off-the-highway cycling, outside the winter season.

Cross-country and off-the-highway cycling are sports which are developing at present to a considerable extent, and it is particularly attractive to practice them in mountainous regions, due to the sportive possibilities offered for descents on a cycle and the beauty and variety of the landscape when riding. However, when practicing cross-country cycling on steep ground, it is necessary, after every descent, to climb back up again and this can only be done on foot, pushing the bicycle. Similarly, off-the-highway cycling implies long climbs, which are exhausting for the cyclists. Now, ski-lifts exist in many places, which are generally unused in summer.

It may therefore be envisaged to take advantage of the existence of these ski-lifts, to haul up bicycles during the periods when there is no snow and to enable downhill cross-country cycling to be practiced under the most pleasant conditions possible. However, the traction of bicycles presents two important differences from the traction of the other objects usually hauled by ski-lifts:

The cyclist is completely independent and he may pass from one ski-lift to another during his rides, and in many cases he is owner of his cycle.

In the course of traction, the cyclist must steer his machine, taking into account the bumps inflicted thereon by the unequal surface of the slope, and the sudden variations in the efforts of traction that it induces.

The device for connecting a bicycle to the traction cable of the ski-lift must therefore satisfy three conditions. The device should:

Ensure reliability of the connection despite the bumps and sudden variations in the tractional forces.

Allow disconnection via that part of the device fixed to the cycle, functioning either on the cyclist's initiative or in an automatic safety mode.

Ensure automatic safety disconnection via that part of the device joined to the cable of the ski-lift, which alone remains under the permanent control of the ski-lift operator, thus guaranteeing its operational reliability.

None of the existing devices for hauling machines by a ski-lift satisfies these three conditions. More specifically, existing hauling machines:

either do not offer a sufficient guarantee of a reliable connection when bumps are inflicted on the machine by the rough surface of the track and when there are sudden variations in the tractional forces that this induces, which is the case of the devices described in the Patents DE-A-1 913 373, DE-A-2 334 308 and FR-A-2 005 456;

or do not allow disconnection via that part of the device fixed to the machine (Pat. Nos. DE-A-2 334 308, FR-A-2 005 456, U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,452);

or do not allow automatic safety disconnection via that part of the device connected to the cable of the ski-lift (Pat. No. DE-A-1 913 373).

It is the object of the present invention to ensure the connection of the bicycles to the cable of ski-lifts, satisfying all the conditions set forth hereinabove.

To this end the present invention provides a device for connecting a general traction cable and a bicycle, particularly applicable to ski-lifts, for hauling uphill bicycles or like machines, and in particular bicycles used for cross-country or off-the-highway cycling. The device outside the winter season, comprises a towing part which is connected to the traction cable via an individual traction cable or an individual traction bar, both provided with a tension regulator device, a towed part connected to the bicycle and a safety device for coupling the two towing and towed parts. The safety coupling device automatically engages one of these two parts in the other, this coupling device comprising, taking into account the effect of the tension regulator device, disconnecting means operating on the towed part and releasing the cycle when the rider so desires and also in an automatic safety mode, as well as automatic disconnection means operating on the towing part and releasing the cycle when it deviates from the normal path or when it falls on the ground.

Automatic disconnection of the bicycle is obtained by making use of the fact that, in the two cases mentioned above, the longitudinal vertical plane of the bicycle makes a minimum angle with the axis of the individual traction cable or the individual traction bar.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a device according to the invention for connecting a traction cable and a bicycle.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a safety coupling device between the towing part and the towed part, in a coupled position.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the same device in a position of disconnection by the angle formed by the axis of the individual traction cable or the individual traction bar with the longitudinal vertical plane of the cycle.

FIG. 4 is vertical cross-sectional a view of an embodiment of the device allowing disconnection via the towed part.

FIG. 5 is vertical cross-sectional a view of an alternative embodiment of the device allowing disconnection via the towed part.

Referring now to the drawings, the device according to the invention is provided to establish a connection between a bicyle 1, for example of the type used for practicing cross-country cycling and cycling for pleasure, and a general traction cable 2 such as that of a ski-lift already installed in a mountainous region, for hauling the cycle 1 and its rider uphill, without the rider having to produce a considerable physical effort.

The connection device comprises a safety device 3 for coupling a towing part 4 connected to the traction cable 2 and a towed part 5 connected to the cycle 1.

The towing part 4 is connected to the traction cable 2 via a tension regulator 6, of the articulated spring type, which is hooked to the lower end of an individual traction cable 7 (or an individual traction bar) which is itself hooked, at its upper end, to the traction cable 2 via a fixing device 8 of any appropriate type.

The safety coupling device 3 allows automatic connection of the two towing and towed parts 4 and 5 respectively, by engagement of one of these female parts in the other male part. Device 3 also permits the disconnection of parts 4 and 5, either manually when the rider arrives at the top of the slope and wishes to release the bicycle, or automatically in the event that the cycle falls or deviates from the axis of traction so as to form too large an angle with the axis of traction.

A non-limiting embodiment of the safety coupling device is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The towing part 4 comprises a body 9 supporting the traction and safety mechanism, the shape of this body 9 being adapted to receive in its recessed rear part a body 10 of the towed part 5, for avoiding any relative rotation of these two bodies 9, 10 in a position of connection and to facilitating disconnection when the axis of traction forms a minimum angle with the angle of the device.

The traction and safety mechanism of the towing part 4 comprises an assembly of two jaws 11,12, comprising two-armed levers, mounted respectively to pivot, on the body 9 of the towing part 4, about respective pins 13,14 on the body 9. The rear ends 11a, 12a, of the rear arms of these jaws 11,12, i.e. the ones which are located towards the towed part 5, are normally maintained locked in a position of closure, in the case of axial traction, by lateral locking bosses 15, 16 of a safety cam 17 mounted to pivot, in the front part of the body 9, about a pin 18. The lateral locking bosses 15, 16 of the cam 17 are positioned such that, in the case of axial traction, these two bosses 15,16 lie respectively opposite and in contact with the respective front ends 11b, 12b of the front arms of the two jaws 11,12. The safety cam 17 is connected to a traction arm 19 which extends forwardly, from cam 17 outside the body 9, and which is connected to the traction cable via the tension regulator device 6 and the individual traction cable or the individual traction bar. Consequently, the cam 17 pivots constantly, in the case of axial traction, about pin 18 in order to follow, exactly, the movements of the axis of traction with respect to the vertical longitudinal plane of the bicycle. In the absence of any axial traction, the safety cam 17 is maintained, by a return spring 20, in a median rest position in which it ensures locking of the two jaws 11 in a position of closure, since its two bosses 15,16 repel the front ends 11b, 12b of the two jaws 11,12 respectively towards the outside. Thus the rear ends 11a, 12a of the two jaws 11,12 are clamped towards one another and they maintain therebetween a catch 21 attached to the body 10 of the towed part 5.

In the event that towing part 4 deviates from the axis of traction with respect to the longitudinal vertical plane of the bicycle, rotation of the safety cam 17 in one direction or the other about pin 18 (FIG. 3) provokes retraction of the locking bosses 15,16 so that the front ends 11b, 12b of the jaws 11,12 are no longer immobilized. Consequently, jaws 11,12 are released and the catch 21 may then escape by itself from the hold of the rear ends 11a, 12a of the two jaws 11,12. The bicycle is then automatically released.

The catch 21 is advantageously arranged at the front end of a plate 22 which is supported by a spring 23 allowing both downward pivoting of the catch 21, in order voluntarily to release the cycle, and the upward return thereof, for engagement of the towed part 5 in the towing part 4. Manual downward retraction of the catch 21 may be effected by a downward traction on a cable 24 connected to catch 21.

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the catch 21 is fast with an arm 25 mounted to pivot about a horizontal, transverse pin 26 and pushed upwardly by a spring 27. In this embodiment again, a traction cable 24 hooked to the catch 21 makes it possible to pivot the latter downwardly, against the force exerted by the spring 27, in order to release the towed part 5 from the towing part 4.